Counseling

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or you are in immediate danger, call 911.

24-Hour Support | Call 315.443.8000

Syracuse University students experiencing a mental health crisis, seeking support for sexual assault or relationship violence, or needing urgent medical consultation can receive free confidential services 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 315.443.8000. Please note, routine consultations should hold until the next business day.

Schedule a Counseling Appointment

Please note, there is a No-Show Fee.

Students scheduling a mental health appointment for the first time are asked to follow the instructions below.

  1. Have Syracuse University I.D. number and insurance information available.
  2. At this time, drop-in services are not available.
  3. Select one of the following ways to schedule an initial mental health appointment.
    1. Schedule using the Patient Portal. Visit the Patient Portal Instructional webpage to learn more.
    2. Call 315.443.8000, during this time students may request a same-day appointment.

Students who have attended a mental health appointment in the past are asked to follow the instructions below. Please note, Patient Portal scheduling is not available for returning mental health appointments.

  1. Have Syracuse University I.D. number and insurance information available.
  2. At this time, drop-in services are not available.
  3. Call 315.443.8000, during this time students may request a same-day appointment.

Explore opportunities and learn how to get started on the Group Counseling webpage.

Explore complete details on the Mental Health webpage.

Participating in Individual Counseling

Individual counseling can provide an opportunity to talk confidentially with an objective, caring professional about concerns and gain insights for a better understanding of one’s difficulties. These insights are then used to create a plan of action to carry out in one’s daily living.

  • An initial consultation will be hosted during the first appointment. During this time, you will provide information about presenting concerns, relevant history and identify possible goals for counseling.
  • At the end of the appointment, the therapist will provide related recommendations and options that best meet needs. During this time, students will have the opportunity to discuss the recommendations and make a plan for how to move forward. For issues that might be better served by long-term counseling, a referral to a community provider will be explored.

Participating in Relationship Counseling

Relationship support services are available to Syracuse University undergraduate and graduate students. Please note, both participating students must be from Syracuse University.

Couple’s Enrichment is a psychoeducational experience aimed at creating stronger relationships. Facilitators and participants will work in conjunction to identify the skills they feel need improvement such as communication, stress management, conflict resolution, creating intimacy and more. Couple’s Enrichment is suitable for all couples, at all stages of development.

Please note, this is not the same as Couple’s Counseling, as it is focused on enrichment of skills as opposed to processing specific problems or challenges for couples.

Couple’s Counseling is a psychotherapeutic experience aimed at helping couples process thoughts, behaviors and patterns contributing to challenges the couple is experiencing. Examples of appropriate uses for Couple’s Counseling include the following.

  • Adjusting to cohabitating.
  • Balancing a co-parenting relationship.
  • Creating and maintaining intimacy.
  • Healing after infidelity.
  • Resolving sexual issues.
  • Strengthening trust.

When a child transitions to an adult and leaves home, it can cause a shift to the family system. Family Counseling gives students and their local family members an opportunity to process that shift and adapt to the change. Virtual sessions are available to students and families within New York State. In-person sessions are available to students and families within the Syracuse area. Family Counseling can help with the following.

  • Adjusting to life cycle changes.
  • Feelings of being homesick.
  • Fostering independent identity development.
  • Maintaining a system of support from a distance.
  • Processing and healing from impactful childhood experiences.
  • Resolving conflict with siblings.

A student’s living environment can have a huge impact on their mental health and academic performance. Available psychoeducational and psychotherapeutic services can assist cohabiting students in developing a functional living environment. Cohabiting students are invited to explore the following through Roommate Mediation.

  • Discussing finances.
  • Negotiating boundaries.
  • Resolving conflict.
  • Strengthening connection.